The New York Times has a few tips for air travelers grounded by a cancelled flight when they want to rebook on the next best available. A cell phone call to the airline has worked for me before:

Call your airline or travel agent as soon as you learn your flight is canceled. This can help you jump ahead of passengers waiting in line to be rebooked on airlines that still reaccommodate passengers manually.

The Times explains that some airlines rebook passengers automatically using neat algorithms based on your ticket price and final destination (like US Airways), but others do it on a first come, first-served basis (like JetBlue). Any other tips for dealing with a cancelled flight? Let us know in the comments or to tips at lifehacker.com. — Gina Trapani